Don't let the mystical forces of the moon (or whatever it is) cause you to do something stupid before the race.

Tip number #6—Beware of sub-conscious self-sabotage. If you don’t know the name Buddy Edelen, you should: one of the greatest marathoners in American running history, Edelen was a middle-distance runner from Minnesota who went to live and work in England. There he taught at a grade school and plowed through many hard/high-mileage weeks of training and turned himself into the world record holder for the marathon—1963, 2:14:28. However, before he earned such breathtaking honors, Edelen, like all of us, had to do his first marathon, and when he did (as chronicled in the wonderful book, “A Cold, Clear Day,” Edelen decided, on race morning, to eat something radically different before running, and wolfed down a tin of sardines. What happened? Edelen’s experiment backfired on him in the graphic manner that you are imagining that it backfired on him.

Point of the story? Beware some strange and mysterious force of human nature within that might have you deal with pre-race nerves by hurtling yourself off a cliff. Allow strange desires to do something weird to pass by you like a weird dream.

Let them flow through you and think of Buddy Edelen on his hands and knees hurling away, and know that even a world-class marathoner is prone to such strange forces, and have a good laugh about it all, turning a deep-down stress into a moment of stress relief.

Tip number 5—This tip suggests yes, here’s a way to prevent over-stimulation of motivation reserves, but adding a caution sign so you don’t fly off on a joy ride and end up sailing into a ditch.

Having a beer or a glass of wine at night—as in one beer or one glass of wine—is not going to kill you and might even help you store up energy for marathon day by taking the edge off. But here’s the Competitor Mag tip: Do this in the controlled safety of your home or hotel room. SAVE THE IRISH PUB FOR AFTER THE RACE. Here’s the deal—you’re under a lot of pressure, right? You have a time goal, perhaps you’re competing on some level, so the pressure is building, perhaps transmogrifying into anxiety. The pub, with all of lighthearted, devil-make-care camaraderie and spirit can be overly seductive for the internally freaking-out distance runner. One drink can lead to two, to six, to oblivion. Remember some years back when the NFL lineman, the night before the Super Bowl, ended up drunk in Tijuana? Don’t be that guy—have your drink in controlled conditions.

Danger Zone: Solas is one of Boston's Irish Pubs. Wait until Monday night.

Tip number 4—save energy and your marriage at the same time. Did you bring your family along? That’s great, especially if they’re running it too. What, they’re not running? Make sure you have the talk with them that it might be tough for you to enjoy the great city of Boston before the marathon. In fact, you might have your basket-case moments (if you don’t have basket-case moments before racing the Boston Marathon, you are a rare-breed of runner-warrior). Have the talk with them where you let them know not to worry about you, to go off and do their own thing, and then after the race is over you’ll have burned off the stress in such a huge way that you’ll be the life of the party.

The days before pre-race can be a pressure cooker of a jail cell that you the racer will have to live in. Be sure to set your loved ones free.

Tip number 3, a little more on the feet. If you’re visiting Boston and want to take in some of the sights over the weekend, choose fun things to do that don’t have you walking around the city, like, for example, the Freedom Trail. These are great things to do, but save them for Tuesday (assuming you’re optimistic about fantastic rates of muscle recovery).

Tip number 2: Do activities that take your mind off the race. Movies in your hotel room will give your brain a sweet little vacation from the thought of an approaching marathon. And of course there’s nothing like a good book if you’re a reader. Or playing board games with family or friends. It can be just about anything if it’s lighthearted, takes your mind off the race for a couple of hours and allows you to get off your feet.

Dunkin' Donuts makes a good vacation in Boston--you probably will only have to walk half a block.

If you’ve made it this far and are within a few days of racing the Boston Marathon, motivation likely hasn’t been a problem. All your training is in the bank, all the long runs, all the tempo, all the daily, weekly and monthly discipline that the marathon like takes.

So now you’re in a difficult place—tapering is a shock to the system. The cuts in mileage and overall training were probably dramatic. Many programs chop mileage by more than half of your peak mileage. So respect that your body is in shock and the last thing you need to do is to fritter away physical and psychological energy thinking about the starting gun waiting for you on Monday.

So what’s a runner to do? Tip number 1 is this: Map out a plan on paper of all the tasks that must be taken care of between now and race morning—include everything you need to do to check in for the race plus the necessities like getting water and groceries so you have all the food you need on hand for meals, or for backups if a plan to go out to eat gets messed up (standing in a line at a packed restaurant will drive you bonkers and is a violation of the need to stay off your feet as much as possible).

Los Angeles, CA – The Competitor Group (CGI) and AEG today announced that the finish line for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon will be at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, October 24, 2010. More than 15,000 runners are expected to participate in the 13.1-mile mash-up of music and running, showcasing a scenic course of parks, lakes, trendy shops, clubs, restaurants and the revitalization of downtown Los Angeles.

“We are excited about partnering with the first ever Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon,” said Scott Hanley, VP of Events for AEG/L.A. LIVE. “Nothing says Rock ‘n’ Roll like Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, Club Nokia, the GRAMMY Museum, STAPLES Center and all of the other venues and entertainment at L.A. LIVE and we look forward to welcoming the 15,000 runners, along with their family and friends to experience our one-of-a-kind destination.”

“As the first major running event to finish at LA LIVE, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon is destined to become an instant classic, “ said Bouker Pool, SVP of Marketing for CGI. “This half marathon truly provides a unique tour of Los Angeles starting in the tranquil beauty of Griffith Park and ending in the non-stop excitement of LA. LIVE.”

The race begins at 7:30 am in historic Griffith Park at the intersection of Zoo Ave and Forest Lawn Drive. The course travels past the Los Angeles Zoo, the Autry Museum, through Los Feliz and the trendy enclave of Silver Lake and Echo Park on the way to a spectacular finish through the corridors of downtown high rises before culminating with a celebration at L.A. LIVE.

Keeping with the rock ‘n’ roll theme, Los Angeles runners and spectators alike will be treated to a post-race concert at L.A. LIVE. All participants and volunteers receive free entry to the concert with their race number. Past acts at other Rock ‘n’ Roll series events include Five For Fighting, INXS, Journey, the Black Crows, Goo Goo Dolls and the B-52s.

A full course description of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon, including turn-by-turn directions and a course map, is located at online at los-angeles.competitor.com. L.A. LIVE travel packages and other hospitality specials will be announced at a later date.

Race weekend kicks off with a two-day Health & Fitness Expo on October 22 and 23 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The free expo is open to the public and features more than one hundred fitness retailers, exhibits, free samples and interactive clinics. For more information about the Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon, please visit los-angeles.competitor.com or call (800) 311-1255.

ABOUT L.A. LIVE

L.A. LIVE, the 4 million square foot / $2.5 billion downtown Los Angeles sports, residential and entertainment district developed by AEG, is the region’s most active ‘live content and event campus.’ With fifteen world-class restaurants along with venues such as STAPLES Center, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, the Conga Room, Club Nokia, the GRAMMY Museum®, saluting the history of music and the genre’s best know awards show, Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge, Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE Stadium 14 theatre, The Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles and JW Marriott L.A. LIVE hotels and The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE, more events, award shows, sporting competitions, concerts and hospitality options are showcased at L.A. LIVE than any other destination in the world. Visit L.A. LIVE today at www.lalive.com

About The Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon is a Competitor Group event, scheduled for Sunday, October 24, 2010. With races held in 16 cities nationwide, the Competitor Group offers the most successful series of events in the running world. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series is famous for entertainment and electrifying race routes that showcase host cities like the Las Vegas Strip and Virginia Beach Oceanfront. With charity partners raising more than $233 million over its 13-year history, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series has emerged as a highly successful fundraiser for a variety of local, national and international non-profits.

Las Vegas, NV – June 16, 2010 – The Competitor Group (CGI) today announced a new multi-year agreement with Zappos.com to become the title sponsor of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon & ½ Marathon to Benefit the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), set for Sunday, December 5 on the Las Vegas Strip.

In epic fashion, Las Vegas’ signature running event was rebranded last year and managed for the first time by San Diego-based CGI, drawing entrants from all 50 states and 39 countries. Nearly seven and a half miles of the world famous Las Vegas Boulevard are completely closed for the race, with the entire 13.1-mile half marathon course running on the “The Strip.

After experiencing the inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon first hand last year, Aaron Magness, Senior Director of Brand Marketing & Business Development for Zappos.com, commented that becoming the Title sponsor was an easy decision.

“Taking part in last year’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon was great,” said Magness. “Running down the strip, listening to the bands along the way, seeing the community come out to support the runners, it’s truly an event that transcends the sport of running. We believe our partnership with the Competitor Group represents a perfect pairing with the Zappos.com brand’s focus on being passionate and determined (yes, that’s one of our core values!). Also, running is so much more fun with 32,000 of your closest friends! ”

“We share Zappos’ passion and commitment to offering great experiences and are thrilled to have Zappos.com title our Las Vegas event,” said Scott Dickey, President of the Competitor Group. “Their dedication to service is invaluable to our success and will ensure that we continue to break the mold, staging one of the most anticipated running events in the nation on the Las Vegas strip.”

Looking to build on the success of last year, CCFA returns as the official and exclusive charity of the Las Vegas event. Through the Team Challenge half marathon training program, CCFA runners raised more than $3.9 million, the largest single day fundraiser in the 46-year history of the foundation. Since its inception in 1998, charities have raised over $233 million though Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series events.

After running a high energy, action packed course down “The Strip,” participants can get ready to party at a finish line festival like no other. The post-race concert is free and open to the public, taking place immediately following the race at the finish line festival, near the Mandalay Bay parking lot. Online registration for both the marathon and half marathon is open at las-vegas.competitor.com.

About Zappos.com

Established in 1999, Zappos.com, operated by Zappos Development, has quickly become the leading destination in online apparel and footwear sales by striving to provide shoppers with the best possible service and selection. The Zappos Family generates gross merchandise sales exceeding $1 billion annually. Zappos.com currently showcases millions of products from over 1000 clothing and shoe brands. Zappos.com, Inc. was recognized in 2009 and 2010 by FORTUNE MAGAZINE as one of the “100 BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR”. More information about the customer service philosophy, unique culture, and job openings can be found at http://about.zappos.com. More information about Zappos Insights, and its business membership program can be found at http://www.zapposinsights.com.

About the Zappos.com Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon & ½ Marathon

A Competitor event, Zappos.com Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon & ½ Marathon to benefit the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America will take place on December 5, 2010. Both the marathon and half-marathon courses give runners a one-of-a-kind view of the famed Las Vegas Strip, which will be closed to all vehicular traffic and reserved exclusively for race participants. A two-day Performance Expo, featuring over 100 vendors from the running, health and fitness industries, will take place on Friday, December 3 and Saturday, December 4. All race participants must visit the expo to pick up their race number, timing tag, T-shirt and goodie bag. For more information about the Zappos.com Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon & Half Marathon, visit las-vegas.competitor.com.

]]>http://running.competitor.com/2010/06/news/zappos-com-becomes-title-sponsor-of-rock-%e2%80%98n%e2%80%99-roll-las-vegas_10552/feed43Meet Jason Lehmkuhlehttp://running.competitor.com/2009/10/race-coverage/meet-jason-lehmkuhle_6435
http://running.competitor.com/2009/10/race-coverage/meet-jason-lehmkuhle_6435#commentsWed, 28 Oct 2009 17:27:16 +0000http://running.competitor.com/?p=6435Gone are the days when a 2:12 American marathoner could not “fly under the radar.” Jason Lehmkuhle has been around for a while. He is

Gone are the days when a 2:12 American marathoner could not “fly under the radar.”

Jason Lehmkuhle has been around for a while. He is 32 years old and has been running professionally for a decade. He has achieved many worthy accomplishments in that decade, yet most fans of American running do not know much about them.

Lehmkuhle will run Sunday’s ING New York City Marathon, which this year doubles as the USA Men’s Marathon Championship. Judging by his recent results, Lehmkuhle has a good shot at attaining a podium spot in this race within a race, if not in the open men’s elite race.

If you plan to watch the race, and we hope you do (unless you’re fortunate enough to be running it), you might like to know a little bit about that pasty American with close-cropped hair you’re cheering for. So here’s a little bit:

Raised in St. Charles, Mo., and educated at Drake University, Jason Lehmkuhle has trained with Minneapolis-based Team USA Minnesota since its inception in 2001. Among his training partners on the team, which is coached by Dennis Barker, is Josh Moen, a former Division III college standout who recently had a breakthrough performance, finishing a close second behind Abdi Abdirahman in the USA 10-Mile Championship and who will also run the New York City Marathon (as will Abdirahman). Don’t be surprised to see Lehmkuhle and Moen running together on Sunday through the first 20 miles—or beyond.

Lehmkuhle was a solid performer in high school, winning Missouri state titles in cross country and track as a senior. He enjoyed similar success in college, earning All-American status at 5000m and 10,000m. Nevertheless, many runners who perform as well as Lehmkuhle did in college do not consider it worth their while to try to run professionally after graduation. Lehmkuhle believed he had untapped potential, however, especially at distances longer than those he was able to run as a student-athlete, and he went for it. And it has paid off.

But it took a while. Due in part to injuries and in part to the fact that he simply needed time to develop, Lehmkuhle had few successes in his first years as a professional racer. His breakout year came in 2005, when he finished third in the USA Half Marathon Championship, qualifying for the World Half Marathon Championship, and also qualified for the World Cross Country Championship and the World Marathon Championship.

Despite that last achievement, and his previous ninth-place finish in the 2004 US Olympic Trials Marathon, Lehmkuhle remained dissatisfied with his results at the marathon distance all the way until the fall of 2007, when he surprised many by finishing fifth in the Olympic Trials Marathon with a personal best time of 2:12:54. He missed out on the last Olympic qualifying slot by 74 seconds.

In an interview after the race, Lehmkuhle said, “I had some really bad races, bad strategies, in about three or four marathons prior to the Trials, so it (the fifth place) really saved my wanting to continue to do the marathon. I said in an interview leading up to the Trials that in 2005, 2006, 2007, in all these build-ups to marathons, I really felt like I was in 2:13 shape. The workouts would point toward that, and then I got in the marathons and there were just myriad things that happened, but they just didn’t work out. Some were disasters, some were moderate disappointments, but I didn’t run the marathon I thought I was capable of until New York (the Trials), and that was the really satisfying part of the race.”

Having finally “figured out” the marathon, Lehmkuhle has since lowered his half-marathon PR to 1:02:32, which is considered to be the equivalent of a 2:11 marathon. If he is able to run that fast on Sunday, Lehmkuhle could score the biggest payday of his career. A 2:11:22 finish was good enough for third place and $40,000 last year, and there is a separate prize money structure for American men this year. Lehmkuhle did compete in the 2008 New York City Marathon and finish eighth overall, third among Americans.

A graphic design major in college, Lehmkuhle maintains a side business as a freelance graphic designer that will become his central focus after he retires from racing. His wife, Kristen Nicolini Lehmkuhle, is also a member of Team USA Minnesota.

]]>http://running.competitor.com/2009/10/race-coverage/meet-jason-lehmkuhle_6435/feed2The Doorshttp://running.competitor.com/2004/02/training/the-doors_3326
http://running.competitor.com/2004/02/training/the-doors_3326#commentsSat, 07 Feb 2004 19:13:28 +0000http://running.competitor.com/?p=3326The Surest Route To Running Satisfaction May Be The Path Of Least Resistance. By John Bingham My grandfather had many favorite

]]>The Surest Route To Running Satisfaction May Be The Path Of Least Resistance.

By John Bingham

My grandfather had many favorite expressions—nearly all of which are unfit for publication. But the one he used often as a means of defusing disappointment over some failure was: “When one door closes, another door opens.”

In the years since his death, I’ve often changed this expression to reflect my own uniquely pessimistic outlook: “When one door closes, another door closes.” There were times, I assure you, when that seemed to be the case.

More often than not, though, my grandfather was right. In most cases, when an opportunity is missed, another will come along soon to replace it. In my life I’ve lost one job hunt only to be offered a better job soon after. In fact, if I had gotten the job I thought I really wanted, I wouldn’t be writing this column.

Runners, though, don’t always seem to be skilled at going through those open doors. Maybe it’s just our nature or the nature of those who are drawn to the sport, I’m not sure. What I am sure of, however, is that it seems like many of us, as runners, spend our entire running lives trying to break through closed doors.

My first closed door was trying to run sub-30 minutes in a 5-K. Considering that it had taken about 48 minutes to complete my first 5-K, the 30-minute door wasn’t just shut, it was locked, barred, and bolted. But, like many, I lined up for 5-K after 5-K and ran with everything I had—right into the closed door.

All around me people were running into closed doors. Some doors were closed at 24 minutes, some at 15 minutes. But the doors all looked pretty much the same. And those of us who ran smack into our doors looked pretty much the same, too, as we staggered across the finish line.

Eventually, I did get through the 30-minute 5-K door. But rather than being content, I saw that there was a 25-minute door that was closed. I also ran into the 60-minute 10-K door, the two-hour-half-marathon door, and the four-hour-marathon door. Some of these doors opened eventually. Some did not.

These days, though, I find myself wanting nothing more than to go through the door that’s wide open. Why run a marathon in five hours when you could run it in six? I understand that this sounds like blasphemy to the sport’s hardliners, but for me being in a race is like going to a theme park. I want to be the first through the turnstile, and I want to stay until they throw me out.

That’s not to say that it isn’t important to have goals. Striving to find our limits and potential keeps life and running interesting. But not always. Sometimes, it’s better to take what the day gives us.

We may very much want to run a 30-minute 5-K, but the open door that day might be 33 minutes. What’s important to know is that you have a choice. You can run full speed into a door that is closed or you can pull back just a little and go through the open door.

There are doors that are open to us every day. And, in the end, you may find that by following the path that is best for you, there’s actually a third variation on my grandfather’s wisdom: “When one door opens, another door opens.”